There is currently a strong eco-friendly wave sweeping through Jeju. The UNEP International Environmental Conference is being held, heightening enthusiasm for environmental issues more than ever. At the same time, the 2004 Environmental Technology Exhibition (ECO-TECH FAIR) is taking place, showcasing and introducing various environmental technologies. The UNEP conference focuses on the theme of Water, while the Environmental Technology Exhibition features around 40 participating companies presenting over 100 products. Of particular interest are the Korea LPG Environmental Association’s LPG bus, TEMS’s Avante XD (NGV), Santa Fe (Electric Vehicle), and BS120CN (NGV), and NK’s mobile CNG tanker truck.
Through this feature, we will bring you detailed updates from Jeju.
Written and Reported by: BusLife
Date: March 31, 2004
Jeju Island is currently filled with a festive atmosphere.
The 4.3 International Marathon was held on March 28, coinciding with the Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival. In April, the grand Canola Flower Festival is scheduled to take place, keeping the island in a continuous festive mood.
Amid the island’s beautiful nature, the UNEP International Environmental Conference is further enhancing the festive spirit. This event, held for the first time in Asia, gathers over 1,200 participants, including government representatives from 158 countries, 50 international organizations, and numerous NGOs. The conference runs for three days, from March 29 to 31.
Let’s take a closer look at the venue where the conference is being held — the ICC Jeju (International Convention Center).
Images used on this page are sourced from the ICC Jeju official website (http://www.iccjeju.co.kr/).
ICC Jeju is a resort-style, world-class international multi-purpose convention center. It occupies a land area of approximately 16,600 pyeong and stands seven stories tall, equipped with conference halls of various sizes and supporting facilities. It is located in the Jungmun Tourist Complex in Seogwipo City, surrounded by stunning natural scenery.
| Area | |
|---|---|
| Site Area | 54,876㎡ (16,600 pyeong) |
| Building Area | 15,217㎡ (4,603 pyeong) |
| Total Floor Area | 62,125㎡ (18,793 pyeong) |
| Floor Use | |
| 3rd – 7th Floors | Conference facilities, dining facilities |
| 1st – 2nd Floors | Exhibition facilities, retail and leisure areas, parking |
| Structure | |
| Main Structure | Steel & Reinforced Concrete |
| Roof Structure | Steel Truss |
It takes about 45 minutes from Jeju International Airport, either by taxi or public transportation.
During the conference period, the airport limousine bus route has been temporarily adjusted to stop directly at the main entrance of ICC Jeju. Considering the limited public transport options on the island, Jeju extends or reroutes the airport limousine line to major event venues during international events to minimize inconvenience for visitors.
Bus stop announcements are provided in four languages (Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese), and drivers receive special training to enable basic English communication. Promotional videos about Jeju Island are also screened on the buses to enhance publicity for the region.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the ECO-TECH FAIR 2004 being held at ICC Jeju.
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Period: March 28 (Sun) – 31 (Wed), 2004
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Hours: Mar. 28 (Sun) 14:00 – 19:00 / Mar. 29 (Mon) – 31 (Wed) 10:00 – 17:00
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Venue: ICC Jeju Event Hall, 1st Floor
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Hosted by: Ministry of Environment
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Organized by: Korea Environmental Industry Association · Environmental Label Association
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Supported by: Jeju Province
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Exhibition Categories
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Eco-friendly Products Zone – Green home appliances, eco-lifestyle goods, green building materials, eco office supplies, leisure products, vehicles and components, refillable products
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Outstanding Environmental Technology Zone – Air, water, and waste treatment technologies, clean energy technologies, ecological restoration technologies
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Public Environmental Enterprise Zone – Government-affiliated organizations
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Environmental Policy Promotion Zone – Korea’s advanced environmental policies and success stories, UNEP and international organization activities, NGO initiatives and promotions
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As mentioned earlier, more than 40 companies are participating, introducing over 100 products.
Our particular area of interest lies in eco-friendly vehicles and related technologies — including LPG and CNG-based systems.
Let’s take a quick look inside the exhibition hall through some photos. Many companies are showcasing a wide range of environmentally friendly products.
Yuhan-Kimberly presented its 12-color digital printing system.
Under the slogan “Water, Nature, and People,” the Korea Water Resources Corporation presented its projects in environmentally friendly water resource development and management.
The Korea LPG Environmental Association, dedicated to promoting LPG vehicle adoption, was also present.
One regret was that the newly developed LPG bus was not physically exhibited or available for test drives — it was only shown through photos.
Compared to the CNG buses and mobile tankers that were actually transported to the island despite the lack of local infrastructure, this felt somewhat disappointing.
For years, the natural gas bus deployment program had excluded Jeju Island.
As someone originally from Jeju, I had long hoped to see natural gas buses operating on the island — and now that dream has finally come true.
Because Jeju lacks a natural gas supply infrastructure, operating CNG buses was previously impossible. Yet now, a CNG tanker truck proudly stands on Jeju soil.
And not just the tanker — an actual CNG bus has arrived too, featuring a non-step floor design.
The bus was shipped from Mokpo Port by ferry.
This may be the first and possibly the last time a CNG bus visits Jeju. Despite its beautiful scenery, Jeju has long relied on diesel buses, making the introduction of low-emission vehicles all the more necessary.
In this sense, even though they are here only for exhibition purposes, the arrival of the CNG tanker and bus carries great symbolic meaning. While plans for introducing LPG buses remain sluggish, this event feels especially significant.
The blue sky of Jeju and the color of the bus seem to go perfectly together.
The exhibition also showcased natural gas passenger vehicles.
The Avante XD made its debut as a CNG sedan.
The vehicle is designed to run on both gasoline and CNG, ensuring stable operation even for long-distance driving.
Fuel switching between gasoline and CNG can be done automatically or manually, and can even occur while the engine is running.
Given the still-limited number of CNG refueling stations, this dual-fuel system offers practical flexibility.
The car also boasts high fuel efficiency — about 17 km per cubic meter of gas.
A dedicated gauge under the dashboard displays the current CNG fuel level. It also indicates whether the vehicle is running on gasoline or CNG, and shows when the system is switching between the two fuels.
When starting the engine, even if CNG mode is selected, the car first starts with gasoline — as starting directly with CNG is still difficult. After ignition, it automatically switches to CNG mode.
Also on display was an electric vehicle for official use by Jeju authorities.
We plan to cover natural gas and electric vehicles in more detail in future articles.
With its breathtaking natural landscapes and its growing role as an international free city, we hope Jeju will continue its transformation into a leading eco-friendly city. This concludes our special coverage from ICC Jeju.
In our next feature, we’ll present “Jeju City: Toward Advanced Public Transport” — a look into city buses designed for and loved by Jeju’s citizens.
